Players pick Van Gundy as NBA’s most annoying coach

Sports Illustrated polled 138 NBA players about who they thought was the most annoying coach of the league during games. Van Gundy was the overwhelming winner with 65 percent of the vote.

Phil Jackson of the Lakers and Milwaukee’s Scott Skiles picked up 7 percent of the vote to tie for second place. And Gregg Popovich is fifth with 3 percent, behind the Nets’ Avery Johnson at 4 percent.

And interestingly, even a couple of non-head coaches got a vote. Boston assistant Lawrence Frank and Bobcats majority owner Michael Jordan, received one vote apiece.

It’s easy to see why Van Gundy got the vote. Watch his uber-attentive act along the sidelines or listen to his animated bark during timeouts.

That act got him the nickname “The Master of Panic” from his former center Shaquille O’Neal. And it apparently has received some attention from others around the league as well.